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The Complete List of Essential School Cafeteria Kitchen Equipment
School cafeterias are more than just places where students eat their lunch; they’re also where they socialize with their peers and practice healthy eating habits.
As such, cafeterias must be equipped with all the essential kitchen equipment to prepare and serve foods that meet students’ needs and preferences. However, given the vast array of school kitchen equipment available and the numerous factors to consider, such as space, menu options, budget, and safety, shopping can feel intimidating.
The good news is that s.t.o.p. Restaurant Supply, Canada’s leading restaurant supplier, has compiled a list of cafeteria kitchen equipment every school needs. These items will help you cook, hold, display, and serve food for hungry students.
Whether you are planning to start a new cafeteria or upgrade an existing one, this guide provides the basics of commercial cafeteria equipment.
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Essential School Cafeteria Equipment in Canada |
Food Preparation Equipment
Cooking for hundreds or thousands of students doesn’t require magic; it takes a considerable amount of preparation work. School kitchen equipment, such as food processors and mixers, can facilitate the preparation of large quantities of raw ingredients by chopping, slicing, and dicing them efficiently.
Streamline your cooking process with this commercial cafeteria equipment:
☑️ Food Processor: Chop, slice, shred, puree, and mix various ingredients in seconds. Save you valuable time and energy when preparing salads, sauces, soups, dips, and more.
☑️ Cutting Boards: These boards come in different sizes, shapes, and materials and protect school countertops and knives from damage when cutting food!
☑️ Mixing Bowls: From mixing ingredients for delicious salads to creating delectable baked goods, mixing bowls are versatile tools that make food preparation more efficient and enjoyable for kitchen staff.
☑️ Measuring Cups: Whether it's flour for baking or sauces for savoury dishes, measuring cups are indispensable tools for maintaining flavour consistency.
☑️ Measuring Spoons: From a pinch of salt to a teaspoon of spices, these ensure accurate portioning when prepping so recipes are consistent and delicious every time.
☑️ Immersion Blenders: Immersion blenders are the best tools for blending soups, sauces, and other dishes directly in their pots or containers.
☑️ Slicers: Whether it's slicing vegetables, deli meats, or cheeses, slicers ensure precision and efficiency in prep work for school cafeteria kitchens.
☑️ Electric Juicer: These juicers can make healthy and refreshing juices to consume as a beverage, or as a way to sneak some vegetables into recipes!
☑️ Stand Mixer: Stand mixers are powerful kitchen appliances that can mix, knead, and blend ingredients without supervision. No elbow grease required.
☑️ Knives: Knives come in various shapes and sizes to give you plenty of options for slicing meat, vegetables, and more.
☑️ Safety Equipment: Safety regulations keep children safe, so using personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment is a must.
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Commercial Heating and Cooking Equipment
Cooking equipment is the beating heart of any school kitchen.
From stovetops to convection ovens, industrial-grade restaurant equipment is designed to efficiently handle high-volume cooking and heating tasks. This allows kitchen staff to prepare delicious and nutritious meals for their students.
☑️ Convection Oven: This type of commercial oven is ideal for baking a wide selection of dishes, from pastries to casseroles, with consistent and delicious results.
☑️ Commercial Ranges: Equipped with multiple burners, ovens, and precise temperature controls, ranges can cook multiple dishes simultaneously.
☑️ Steam Kettles: Using steam for even heat distribution, steam kettles are instrumental for preparing soups, sauces, and stews efficiently.
☑️ Combi Ovens: Combi ovens add versatility in school cafeteria kitchens by using convection, steam, or a combination of both cooking methods.
☑️ Griddles: Griddles provide school cafeterias with the capacity to prepare a wide range of dishes efficiently, especially around breakfast time.
☑️ Fryers: Compact and efficient, commercial deep fryers play a key part in preparing controlled portions of much-loved fried food.
☑️ Induction Cooktops: These are a fast, safe, and efficient cooking platform that minimizes heat emissions while ensuring hygiene in school cafeterias.
☑️ Broilers: Broilers provide on-demand hot water and steam for cooking, sterilization, and sanitation in school kitchens.
☑️ Microwave: They’re everywhere for a reason. When you need to heat some ingredients in a pinch, they always do the trick.
Refrigeration Equipment
Behind every kitchen lies a world of chill and freshness. Refrigeration equipment keeps ingredients crisp, beverages cold, and dairy products at their best. Here is more commercial cafeteria equipment you need!
☑️ Walk-in Refrigerators: If you're buying fresh produce in bulk, these spacious refrigerators are your best friends.
☑️ Reach-in Refrigerators: Organized and easily accessible, these fridges are like the accessible superheroes of ingredient storage.
☑️ Refrigerated Display Cases: These help cafeteria staff show students what’s on the menu on a given day.
☑️ Blast Chillers: Rapidly lower food temperatures to extend shelf life, particularly useful for fresh doughs and perishables.
☑️ Proofing Retarders: Control the temperature and humidity during the proofing cycle of dough for better results.
☑️ Beverage Coolers: Most cafeterias offer a variety of drinks. Assuming yours does, you’ll want one of these to keep them cold for students!
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Serving Supplies
Cooking is only half the battle; food also needs to be served.
Kitchen equipment for schools includes serving supplies, bridging culinary creations and the eager appetites awaiting them. From serving carts to trays, these tools ensure meals are delivered with care, adding an extra touch of warmth to every bite.
☑️ Serving Cart: Mobile, multi-tiered carts designed for efficiently transporting and serving meals and other necessities within school cafeteria settings.
☑️ Serving Tray: Easy-to-wash trays provide a clean and convenient surface on which students can enjoy their meals.
☑️ Heat Lamps: Heat lamps maintain the temperature of food items, ensuring students and staff can enjoy piping hot meals even during busy lunch hours.
☑️ Plate Warmers: Plate warmers keep plates warm so that food remains at the ideal serving temperature.
☑️ Thermal Pitcher: These keep beverages at desired temperatures.
☑️ Pots and Pans: Pots and pans are versatile tools used in various aspects of school cafeteria operations, including cooking, heating, and serving.
☑️ Soup Warmer: Soup warmers maintain the temperature of soups, ensuring that students and staff can enjoy hot and comforting meals throughout the day.
☑️ Spatulas: Spatulas are versatile kitchen tools used for flipping, lifting, and spreading a variety of foods in school cafeterias.
☑️ Tongs: Tongs are indispensable utensils in school cafeterias for gripping, flipping, and serving a variety of foods.
☑️ Sneeze Guards: Protect your food and staff from sneezes and other germs.
Food Storage Solutions
Storage may not be the most glamorous aspect of the kitchen, but it's crucial to maintaining freshness, organization, and efficiency. Food storage solutions keep ingredients at their best and ensure that the kitchen is a well-organized and harmonious workspace.
☑️ Cambro Containers: Designed to keep ingredients fresh, prevent cross-contamination, and ensure food remains organized and accessible.
☑️ Food Vacuum Sealer: Prevents spoilage, maintains food freshness, and extends the shelf life of ingredients.
☑️ Shelving Units: Commercial-grade shelving units with adjustable shelves are commonly used in kitchens and cafeterias to store dry goods, canned foods, and kitchen equipment.
☑️ Drawer Systems: Drawer systems with compartments are used for storing small kitchen tools, utensils, and ingredients such as cutlery, measuring spoons, and spices.
☑️ Storage Jars: These are suitable for storing spices, herbs, sauces, and small quantities of dry ingredients.
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Dishwashers and Cleaning Equipment
Behind every lunch rush is a mountain of dirty dishes waiting to be transformed into sparkling, sanitized piles. Dishwashers and cleaning-focused kitchen equipment for schools are the unsung heroes of lunchtime hygiene.
☑️ Commercial Dishwasher: A high-capacity appliance designed for efficient and hygienic dishwashing in commercial kitchens and cafeterias.
☑️ Cleaning Supplies: Essential tools and agents, including soap, sponges, and cleaning agents, for maintaining cleanliness in food service environments.
☑️ Hand Sanitizer and Dispenser: Conveniently placed sanitizers with dispensers promote hand hygiene among cafeteria staff and patrons.
☑️ Dishwashing Sink: Equipped with a powerful spray nozzle, these are for cleaning dishes, trays, and utensils in commercial kitchens and school cafeterias.
☑️ Waste Management Systems: Garbage cans and bags for proper disposal of food waste and maintenance of kitchen cleanliness.
☑️ Safety Signs: Kids can be clumsy, so take precautions with these!
☑️ Non-Slip Mats: Avoid slip-and-fall accidents when cleaning by laying these down in your dishwashing area.
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Upgrade Your School Cafeteria Kitchen Equipment at S.T.O.P. Restaurant Supply
It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re cooking for hundreds of people without the right equipment, so investing in high-quality and heavy-duty school kitchen equipment is a must for cafeterias to feed hungry tummies.
At S.T.O.P. Restaurant Supply, we have everything you need to upgrade your school cafeteria kitchen equipment, from food preparation equipment to refrigeration appliances, serving supplies, cleaning equipment, and more.
Whether you are starting a new cafeteria or renovating an existing one, we can help you find the best solutions for your needs and budget. Shop our full catalogue or contact us directly to learn more about our commercial cafeteria equipment!
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